Selecting a curtain rod for curtains can affect not only the perception of the interior of the room but also its size: a well-selected rod can visually “lift” the ceiling, “expand” a very narrow wall and add volume to a small room.
Curtains should always match the chosen style of the interior, match the colors and complete the overall picture. Curtains play an important role in the décor of the room, and curtain rods are equally important. In addition to the fact that a curtain rod has a functional task – to protect the curtains, to ensure reliable operation, easy closure, and opening – it must be stylistically matched and harmonious to the interior.
How Do You Adjust Curtain Rod Length?
From traditional wood to modern, from chrome to stainless steel, you can find many different curtain rod designs. If you want, you can pick more decorative curved ones, or the ones with a crystal tip. Whichever you choose, the curtain rod installation technique is always the same. The curtain rod is actually very easy to attach. You just need to make sure that it is properly secured to the wall. The curtains are attached to the curtain rod and the curtain rod is connected to the wall with 2 or more brackets. The decorative ends and motifs on the rustic rods are attached with screws called small-headless screws. Curtains are hung directly on the curtain rod or with the help of curtain rings.
The length of the curtain can be up to the floor or vertical window size, which is up to you. Window sizes and shapes vary. It is also important to consider this factor.
Determine the position of your curtain rod according to where you want your curtain to hang. Select the length of the curtain and cornice by taking this into account. Also, determine whether to use a ring or spiral when hanging your curtains. I highly recommend using a ladder; Although it is a simple task, installation of curtain rods – even all curtain works, is one of the most causes of home accidents. Using a stool or a chair to access your ceiling level is not safe and not recommended, especially if you are planning to install the curtain rod on your own. If you feel overwhelmed, you can always ask for professional help but I will try to illustrate how you can hang your curtain rods on your own. You need to have several tools: a drill, a screwdriver, a level and a tape measure (having a small ruler too is also beneficial).
When hanging a heavy curtain, you should first measure the center point of the window. For this, measure the window length. Divide the number you measured in half and mark it on the window. After deciding how long the curtain will hang on the window, mark the height to which you will attach the bar, taking into account the length of the curtain you have chosen. Make sure that your brackets are at the midpoint of the horizontal distance and at the desired height above your window. Align your bracket to the wall and mark the locations of the holes you need to drill on the wall. Do the same for the end brackets with 2-3 inches of clearance at the ends of your curtain rod. Make sure all your brackets are aligned horizontally before drilling the holes. After fixing the brackets to the wall, you have to fix your curtain rod on the brackets with the headless (blunt-tipped) screws. After attaching the caps (if there are any) your curtain rod is ready to carry your curtains.
What are Adjustable Curtain Rods?
Curtain rods can be either fixed length or adjustable. I will talk about both of them to clarify the difference between.
Fixed length curtain rods are the classic immovable rods on which you hang your curtains. There are many different fixed length curtain rod options such as wood, metal, plastic and even wrought iron rods. They are often manufactured in preset lengths ranging from 4 feet to 16 feet. While they are in fixed lengths, adjustments can be made by the installer or the manufacturer to fit your window length by either cutting down to shorten or joined together to lengthen.
Adjustable length curtain rods come in 2 varieties: spring tension rods and telescopic rods. Spring tension curtain rods are comprised of a rod within a rod which can be extended by turning the interior rod on its axis. You basically lengthen the rod to match your window clearing. With the help of the string installed in the rod, you compress the rod between two surfaces. And there, you have a curtain rod without any screws or brackets.
Telescoping curtain rods are quite similar to fixed-length curtain rods as you need to mount the rod to the wall with brackets or screws. You can then extend the rod by turning it on its axis.
Which Type of Adjustable Curtain Rod Should You Choose?
Spring tension curtain rods and telescoping curtain rods have their own separate uses. You have to choose the most suitable one for your window and I am here to help. There are many advantages of installing a spring tension curtain rod: I will list some below
- They are easy to install; just measure your window clearing and buy a spring tension curtain rod matching that length and install it, you don’t need any expertise on tools
- They don’t require screws or brackets; you don’t have to drill your wall or calculate where the brackets should be hung – also your landlord won’t care if you install one.
- They are relatively cheap; as curtains hide the spring tension curtain rod, they are often made of non-decorative materials which are cheaper, and as you probably can install it on your own, you don’t need to pay a professional.
While spring tension curtain rods have their advantages, they are not very sturdy; as the spring tension curtain rods carry their own weight without any support, they are only suited for lightweight curtains. It is advised to use another type of curtain rod if your window clearing is more than 100 inches as longer spring tension curtain rods are very unstable and they bend in a curve since there are no supportive brackets used in this type of curtain rod. They are rather suited for temporary use since they are not a heavy-performing type of curtain rods.
Now let’s talk about telescoping curtain rods. Here are some of the advantages of using telescoping curtain rods:
- They come in many varieties; you can find an old fashioned one for a retro look or find a modern one with a minimalistic style
- They offer flexibility; for example, if you have 3 windows with sizes 70 inches, 90 inches, and 105 inches, a telescoping rod of 65-120 inches will be able to cover all your windows.
- They can be cheap; they are sold demounted and you can install it yourself – you don’t have to pay a professional to install it.
Which Adjustable Curtain Rod Is the Best?
Ivilon Drapery Treatment Window Curtain Rod – Square Design 1 1/8 Rod. 28 to 48 Inch. Black
Having a 4.8 out of 5 stars rating on Amazon, it comes in adjustable sizes of 28-48 inches, 48-86 inches, 72-144 inches, and 120-240 inches. It has a matte black finish. This curtain rod is one of the best curtain rods you can get for less than 50 dollars. Prices increase as the length of the rod increase though.
Its hollow metal pole is 1 1/8 inches in diameter. The endpieces are resin/plastic. It is sturdy and of high quality. It can support the weight of thick blackout curtains. I would recommend using this in a modern room setup as the color suggests. It is very easy to install, comes ready with all the necessary equipment and instructions for installation.
Kenney Beckett 5/8″ Standard Decorative Window Curtain Rod, 28-48″, Oil Rubbed Bronze
This curtain rod has 4.4 stars out of 5 on Amazon. It has softened square-shaped caps with an oil rubbed bronze plastic finish. The rod is 5/8 inches in diameter and projects 3.5″ from the wall. There are 2 length range options for the product; 28-48 inches and 48-86 inches. It is best used with light to medium weight curtains on your windows. It is a strong, budget product within 10-20 dollars range.
It is sturdy, it is the ‘gets-the-job-done-right’ type of curtain rod. It has a rather traditional look with the ornamented cap. It comes with matching brackets and mounting hardware. It can support blackout curtains easily and it has a very high price/performance ratio. It is easy to install and one of the most purchased curtain rods as of 2019 in Amazon.
Decopolitan Urn Telescoping Double Drapery Rod Set, 36-72-Inch, Bronze
Having a 4-star rating in Amazon; this double curtain rod set has a front drapery rod of 7/8 of an inch in diameter and a back sheer drapery rod of 5/8 of an inch in diameter. It is available in 36-72 inches and 72-144 inches. It has black, silver, bronze, brown and white color options. The durable materials used on this product ensure long-lasting use for any bedroom, living room kitchen or bathroom. The product comes with clip rings and holdbacks matching the different color options of it. As it is a double curtain rod set though it is a bit high on the price, it is around 30 dollars for the 36-72 inches one.
This heavy, thick metal rod set is durable. Most other double curtain rods are priced more than 100$ while this one is around 30$ and the low price shouldn’t fool you: This double curtain rod surely doesn’t look cheap and quality is not compromised. It can support a multitude of blackout curtains and sheer curtains. It comes with all required brackets and screws.
Umbra Twilight Room Darkening Curtain Rod – Wrap Around Curtain Rod Perfect for Blackout Curtains, Telescoping Curtain Rod, 28” to 48”, Bronze
Having a unique wrap-around design, this particular curtain rod has 4.5 stars out of 5 on Amazon. It curves on its ends to cover the gap between the rod and the wall. This design allows you to further control light, temperature and noise coming from outside. It comes in 3 differing sizes- 28-48 inches, 48-88 inches, and 88-144 inches. You can either pick an auburn bronze one or a matte nickel one. It is a good buy if your budget is less than 50$.
Its slender design makes it very easy to install. Don’t be fooled by its slim look though, this piece is a sturdy one. The material finish is high-quality for its price and you can achieve a unique look with the wrap-around ends. The curtain wraps around the curved ends and you can have a box-like effect on your windows. As it covers the gap between the curtain and the wall, it has better insulating qualities than other curtain rods. So overall it is a great bang for the buck product not only for its price but also for its performance qualities.
Montevilla 5/8-Inch Bell Window Treatment Rod Set, 26 to 48-Inch, Dark Nickel
This curtain rod set has 3.9 stars out of 5 in Amazon. It is made of steel and has a diameter of 5/8 inches. It only comes in 26-48 inches length range with a hand-painted dark nickel finish and plastic rod endings. It comes at a price of 25$
This curtain rod is a light and sturdy pick. It can look great with a black and white themed, modern-looking room. You will have no trouble installing this curtain rod on your own as it is lightweight and straightforward to install. You just have to measure your window clearing, adjust bracket location depending on that distance and drill holes for the bracket and screw the brackets. You just put the rod on top of the brackets and voila- your curtain set is ready to dazzle your guests.
Beme International Kid’s 5/8-Inch Acrylic Crown Rod Set, 26 to 48-Inch, Pink
This curtain rod has a 4.2-star rating out of 5 on Amazon. Made out of steel, this rod has a diameter of 5/8 of an inch. It is adjustable- the rod can be extended between 26 to 48 inches. The endpiece is a hand-painted pink acrylic ball. The rod is also painted in pink and weighs around 7 ounces. It comes with a price tag of 20$ which is quite affordable and this makes for a nice bang for the buck item if you are looking for a curtain rod for your windows.
The pink-colored finish is suitable for a princess room look in your daughter’s room. As goes with all curtain rod sets, this one is easy to install also. The product is boxed with matching brackets which will complete the look of this cute curtain rod.
